CBSE Class 10 Previous Year Question Papers — Last 5 Years
CBSE Class 10 previous year question papers 2021–2025 with marking schemes. Subject-wise download links, frequently repeated topics, and a solving strategy to.
CBSE Class 10 previous year question papers are available for free at cbse.gov.in and cbseacademic.nic.in. Solve 2025, 2024, and 2023 papers first — these follow the current exam pattern with competency-based questions. Always download the marking scheme alongside each paper.
Where to Download — Official Sources
| Source | Website | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| CBSE Official | cbse.gov.in → Question Papers | All subjects, all sets, last 5+ years |
| CBSE Academic | cbseacademic.nic.in | Papers + marking schemes + sample papers |
| CBSE App | Google Play Store | Mobile-friendly access to papers |
Always download the marking scheme with every paper. Without it, you cannot accurately evaluate your answers or understand how examiners award step marks.
Year-Wise Paper Availability and Pattern
| Year | Available | Pattern Notes | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | All subjects | Current pattern — CBQs, case studies, assertion-reason | Solve first |
| 2024 | All subjects | Same pattern as 2025 — competency-based format | Solve second |
| 2023 | All subjects | Full single-term paper resumed after COVID | Solve third |
| 2022 | Term 1 + Term 2 | Term 1 was MCQ-only, Term 2 was subjective — different pattern | Use selectively |
| 2021 | All subjects | Reduced syllabus (COVID) — some chapters excluded | Use selectively |
| 2020 | All subjects | Pre-COVID full syllabus — great for comprehensive practice | Optional |
Subject-Wise Repeated Topics — Class 10
These topics appear in almost every CBSE Class 10 paper. Mastering them guarantees 30–40 marks.
Mathematics
| Topic | Frequency (2020–2025) | Typical Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Quadratic Equations — word problems | Every year | 3–5 |
| Arithmetic Progressions — sum & nth term | Every year | 3–5 |
| Trigonometric Identities — prove LHS = RHS | Every year | 3–4 |
| Surface Area & Volume — combined solids | Every year | 5 |
| Statistics — mean/median of grouped data | Every year | 3–5 |
| Triangles — BPT and similarity proofs | 5 out of 6 years | 3–5 |
| Circles — tangent properties | Every year | 3 |
| Real Numbers — HCF/LCM prime factorisation | Every year | 2–3 |
Science
| Topic | Frequency | Typical Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity — Ohm's law, circuit numericals | Every year | 5 |
| Light — mirror/lens formula, ray diagrams | Every year | 5 |
| Chemical Reactions — balancing, types | Every year | 3–5 |
| Life Processes — heart diagram, digestion | Every year | 5 |
| Heredity — Mendel, sex determination | 5 out of 6 years | 3–5 |
| Carbon Compounds — nomenclature, reactions | Every year | 3–5 |
| Magnetic Effects — motor, generator, EMI | Every year | 3 |
Social Science
| Topic | Frequency | Typical Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Nationalism in India | Every year | 5 |
| Power Sharing & Federalism | Every year | 3–5 |
| Development — HDI, per capita income | Every year | 3 |
| Money & Credit — formal/informal sector | Every year | 3–5 |
| Map work — India political & physical | Every year | 5 |
| Resources & Development | 5 out of 6 years | 3–5 |
Practise high-frequency topics
Super Tutor has chapter-wise practice questions focused on the most frequently asked CBSE Class 10 topics.
Start Practising — FreeHow to Solve PYQs — 4-Step Method
Step 1: Simulate Exam Conditions
- Set a timer for exactly 3 hours
- No phone, no books, no breaks
- Use clean paper and write as you would in the actual exam
- Attempt the paper in question order — skip only if completely stuck
Step 2: Self-Evaluate Using the Marking Scheme
- Download the official marking scheme from cbseacademic.nic.in
- Award step marks strictly — partial marks are important
- Note your score out of 80 for each subject
- Track your score across papers to see improvement
Step 3: Categorise Your Mistakes
| Error Type | Example | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Concept gap | Could not solve BPT problem | Revise the theorem, solve 10 similar questions |
| Silly mistake | Calculation error in trigonometry | Slow down, double-check, write each step |
| Time pressure | Left 2 questions unattempted | Skip hard questions and come back |
| Presentation | Lost marks for missing units | Always write units, label diagrams |
Step 4: Targeted Revision
After each paper, spend 1–2 hours revising ONLY the chapters where you lost marks. Keep a running list across all papers — if the same chapter keeps appearing, it needs focused attention.
Recommended PYQ Solving Schedule
| Week | What to Solve | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 2025 paper — all subjects | Understand current pattern and your baseline score |
| Week 2 | 2024 paper — all subjects | Build pattern recognition across subjects |
| Week 3 | 2023 paper + extra paper for weak subjects | Target specific weaknesses |
| Week 4 | 2020 paper (full syllabus) | Comprehensive practice |
| Week 5 | Re-solve all questions you got wrong | Close remaining gaps |
Previous year papers and marking schemes are available free at cbse.gov.in and cbseacademic.nic.in. Topic frequency based on analysis of CBSE Class 10 papers from 2020–2025. Last updated: February 2026.
Turn this into board-exam marks
Super Tutor gives you chapter summaries, previous-year questions, and full mock exams matched to your board syllabus — so you revise smarter, not longer.
Start preparing — freeFrequently Asked Questions
Where can I download CBSE Class 10 previous year papers?
Download from official sources only: (1) cbse.gov.in → Examinations → Question Papers, (2) cbseacademic.nic.in — has papers with marking schemes. Both are free. Avoid third-party sites that may have modified or incorrect papers. CBSE provides papers from 2018 onwards.
How many CBSE Class 10 previous year papers should I solve?
Solve at least 5 years (2021–2025) per subject. For your weakest subjects, solve all available papers (7–8 years). Start with 2025 (closest to current pattern) and work backwards. Each paper takes about 3 hours — plan 1 paper per day, rotating subjects.
Do questions repeat in CBSE Class 10 board exams?
Exact questions rarely repeat, but question types and patterns repeat every year. For example: quadratic equation word problems, trigonometric identity proofs, electricity numericals, and chemical equation balancing appear in every paper. Solving PYQs trains you to recognise these patterns instantly.
Is solving CBSE Class 10 PYQs enough for board exam preparation?
PYQs alone are not enough, but they are the single most effective practice resource. Combine them with: (1) NCERT textbook completion, (2) 2–3 sample papers for 2026 pattern, (3) Revision of weak chapters. Students who solve 5+ PYQs under timed conditions typically score 10–15 marks higher than those who do not.
Which CBSE Class 10 previous year paper should I start with?
Start with the 2025 paper — it has the most current exam pattern (competency-based questions, case studies). Then solve 2024 and 2023. Papers from 2022 used a different term pattern (MCQ-only Term 1), so use them selectively. The 2020 paper is good for comprehensive practice (pre-COVID full syllabus).
How to use the CBSE marking scheme while solving PYQs?
After solving each paper: (1) Download the marking scheme from cbseacademic.nic.in, (2) Award yourself step marks exactly as described — partial marks for correct steps even with wrong final answers, (3) Note the type of error (concept, calculation, presentation), (4) Study how examiners award marks for diagrams and derivations.